Long-standing Villiers man

Published: 07:30AM Mar 7th, 2014By: Web Editor

I was very pleased to see Richard Rosenthal’s article on autocycle engines (TCM, January 2014). I have been a Villiers enthusiast for 60 years

I have a 1938 Excelsior Autobyk which is fitted with a Villiers Junior engine which is a little different from most inasmuch as the spark plug is located at the side of the engine head and not the top. This engine was illustrated in the February 1989 issue of The Classic MotorCycle in an article on Autocycles. I was interested as to whether this was an early feature or a design rethink?

I have an opinion regarding the Schnurle scavenging system. DKW seems to have been the first to use this patent in its road bikes, but its use of two transfer ports and single exhaust was not taken up by Villiers until 1948. My opinion is that the more complex system previously utilised by Villiers (Four transfer ports and two exhaust ports) was to avoid the patent and the later use was resultant from the Second World War.

I collect both mowers and bikes (I don’t wear a straight jacket!) and have two rarish engines, one is a 197cc 5E in a 1948 Ambassador and a 122cc 6D twin port in a mower made by Excelsior.
I would be very pleased to have someone’s opinion regarding my remarks as generally out here early two-strokes are not a popular subject!